Dublin council, Ohio University close curtain on performing-arts study talks

SARAH SOLE THISWEEKNEWS.COM @ThisWeekSarah

Tuesday

Sep 11, 2018 at 7:05 PMSep 12, 2018 at 10:19 AM

The pursuit of a feasibility study for a cultural and performing-arts center in Dublin has been removed from Dublin City Council's agenda amid internal discussion by Ohio University about its Tantrum Theater, according to a statement from the university and the city of Dublin sent Sept. 10.

Tantrum Theater, which uses the Dublin Community Recreation Center's Abbey Theater of Dublin for its performances, opened in 2015.

City Council had been considering hiring an agency to determine whether a larger, additional cultural and performing-arts center would be a good fit for Dublin. But that resolution was removed from the Sept. 10 council agenda "and for the foreseeable future," according to an emailed joint statement from the city and the university.

City officials initially had asked council members to approve a resolution for a professional-services agreement with Ohio University of 18 to 24 months to conduct a feasibility study.

But council members tabled the resolution July 2 and again Aug. 27.

Assistant City Manager Michelle Crandall said Mayor Greg Peterson had asked for the resolution to be postponed so all members of council could be present to discuss it and vote. Councilwoman Christina Alutto didn't attend the Aug. 27 meeting, Crandall said.

Ohio University President M. Duane Nellis said the institution is "extremely grateful" for its partnership with Dublin in developing the Dublin extension campus in 2011.

The Tantrum Theater has provided "quality professional theatre production and performance opportunities" for students at the Abbey Theater, he said.

"In consideration of the university's Dublin Framework Plan and our strategic objectives at the Dublin extension campus, we will be continuing our ongoing conversations internally about the long-term needs for a sustainable professional theater company in Dublin, including appropriate facilities," Nellis said.

"We thank the broader Dublin community for their support of the Tantrum Theater's partnership with Abbey Theater over the past three years and look forward to continuing our discussion about ways in which Ohio University can be part of Dublin's commitment to enhance cultural and performing arts offerings in the future," he said.

Nellis said the university is optimistic about the continued advancement of the Dublin extension campus and the opportunities it offers.

In the emailed joint statement, city manager Dana McDaniel said Dublin and the university are committed to advancing the development of the OU-Dublin campus and other future partnerships.

"The presence of Tantrum Theater in Dublin has been positive and we greatly appreciate having this outstanding program in our community bringing such a high-level theater experience to the Abbey Theater," he said.

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